Welcome to the future!
This is my final blog for this course and I feel a refreshing sense of liberation. Over the weeks I have explored and reflected upon issues with technology. New millennium literacy requires web 2.0 technologies, include blogs, wikis, digital concept mapping, multimedia sharing services, content syndication, podcasting, RSS feeds and content tagging services.
These are all undergirded by digital and visual literacy. Digital literacy requires basic skills to retrieve, assess, store, produce, present and exchange information, and to communicate and participate in collaborative networks via the internet. Visual literacy however, develops from seeing and integrating sensory experiences and focuses on sorting and interpreting visible actions and symbols.
Moving Forward
It is imperative that we establish the critical systems necessary to ensure readiness for every student. This requires twenty-first century standards, assessments, curriculum, instruction, professional development and learning environments aligned to produce a support system for student success. The model should combine a focus on twenty-first century student outcomes such as blending of specific skills, content knowledge, expertise and literacies; with innovative support systems to help students master the multi-dimensional abilities that are now required of them.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are undoubtedly at crossroads in the education sector. We can either continue to navigate blindly or hop onto the technology bus. I hope that I have motivated some to do as I have done- take every opportunity to learn more and interact with new technology. It is my belief that when you invest in technology you invest in yourself and vice versa.
So as my final ‘write’ I implore you to go boldly into the future. Be wary though, because the future is here!
Farewell from the Millennium Reading Specialist
Have a Wonderful Future!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The New Millennium Reader
Literacy in the Twenty First Century
In my last blog I merely wetted your appetites with the ‘Missing Link’ in digital literacy. Now, let’s delve deeper. From fire to drums to the first telephone and then the computer, man has attempted to use the technologies of his time to communicate faster, easier and better. The New Millennium however, has seen the rapidity and turbidity with which technology has transformed societies.
Historically, the ability to read and write has separated the sheep from the goats, the educated from the uneducated. The concept of literacy has evolved tremendously in the twenty first century. The New Millennium generation of students- referred to the E-Generation, possesses digital competencies to effectively navigate the multidimensional and fast-paced technological digital environment.
The extent to which we as teachers can cope with this is the ‘educational challenge of the new millennium’. For us teachers, surfing the net and travelling through cyberspace seems as treacherous and daunting as learning a new language. In fact, Prensky (2001), described non-IT-literate individuals as being burdened with an accent, and as non-native speakers of a language, struggling to survive in a strange new world.
The children are Pros
By now you would have realised that digital and visual literacies are the wave of communication specialization in the New Millennium. Children learn these skills as part of their lives, like language, which they learn without realizing it. We adults however, approach the new literacy like we do a foreign language, one which is like Greek, complex and perplexing and not an absolute necessity for survival.
But is it really?
In my final official blog read more about digital literacy.
M. Prensky, (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 1–6.
In my last blog I merely wetted your appetites with the ‘Missing Link’ in digital literacy. Now, let’s delve deeper. From fire to drums to the first telephone and then the computer, man has attempted to use the technologies of his time to communicate faster, easier and better. The New Millennium however, has seen the rapidity and turbidity with which technology has transformed societies.
Historically, the ability to read and write has separated the sheep from the goats, the educated from the uneducated. The concept of literacy has evolved tremendously in the twenty first century. The New Millennium generation of students- referred to the E-Generation, possesses digital competencies to effectively navigate the multidimensional and fast-paced technological digital environment.
The extent to which we as teachers can cope with this is the ‘educational challenge of the new millennium’. For us teachers, surfing the net and travelling through cyberspace seems as treacherous and daunting as learning a new language. In fact, Prensky (2001), described non-IT-literate individuals as being burdened with an accent, and as non-native speakers of a language, struggling to survive in a strange new world.
The children are Pros
By now you would have realised that digital and visual literacies are the wave of communication specialization in the New Millennium. Children learn these skills as part of their lives, like language, which they learn without realizing it. We adults however, approach the new literacy like we do a foreign language, one which is like Greek, complex and perplexing and not an absolute necessity for survival.
But is it really?
In my final official blog read more about digital literacy.
M. Prensky, (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 1–6.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Missing Link
Literacies for the New Millennium
Over the weeks I have explored some controversial issues regarding technology and literacy in our nation’s schools. Underlying all of these controversies is ‘the missing link’, the fact that ‘new millennium’ students need multiple literacies. Traditional notions of literacy have evolved to encompass a synthesis of language, thinking, and contextual practices through which people make and communicate meaning. Additionally, the concept of ‘text’ now encompasses non-print forms that are digital, aural and visual.
At Secondary school I was merely afforded the opportunity to learn Basic Programming, which is now primitive by today’s standards. The ‘New Millennium’ learners represent the first generation to have been immersed in digital technologies, video games, cell phones, instant messaging, and the World Wide Web, thus making them the first generation to have spent their entire lives in ICT. This I find exciting.
New literacies are underpinned by students’ abilities to read and write to learn hence they must be able to:
1. Identify important questions
2. Navigate networks to locate information
3. Critically evaluate information and synthesize it to address questions
4. Communicate the answers to others
These skills are critical for success in the New Millennium and we are increasingly challenged to link our classroom practices to them.
Keep reading the Millennium Reading Specialist for more interesting discussions on digital literacy.
Over the weeks I have explored some controversial issues regarding technology and literacy in our nation’s schools. Underlying all of these controversies is ‘the missing link’, the fact that ‘new millennium’ students need multiple literacies. Traditional notions of literacy have evolved to encompass a synthesis of language, thinking, and contextual practices through which people make and communicate meaning. Additionally, the concept of ‘text’ now encompasses non-print forms that are digital, aural and visual.
At Secondary school I was merely afforded the opportunity to learn Basic Programming, which is now primitive by today’s standards. The ‘New Millennium’ learners represent the first generation to have been immersed in digital technologies, video games, cell phones, instant messaging, and the World Wide Web, thus making them the first generation to have spent their entire lives in ICT. This I find exciting.
New literacies are underpinned by students’ abilities to read and write to learn hence they must be able to:
1. Identify important questions
2. Navigate networks to locate information
3. Critically evaluate information and synthesize it to address questions
4. Communicate the answers to others
These skills are critical for success in the New Millennium and we are increasingly challenged to link our classroom practices to them.
Keep reading the Millennium Reading Specialist for more interesting discussions on digital literacy.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Just Do It !
Technology in Education
In my previous blog I mentioned the research of Randall Stross which indicated that students from low income families performances dropped after receiving computers. I also went on to enumerate some of the factors that I thought might have been involved. The question then arose in my mind as to what might happen if we ameliorated these factors by exposing low income families to a range of options and then scaffolding them in using these. What would happen if we changed the culture of education in low income families? This would surely level the playing fields.
The English did it!
According to the Ontario Ministry of Education diversification in the range of technologies available, and improved access to them is changing the nature of literacy and numeracy programs and resources in Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
These include the following:
Digital cameras to produce books that nursery children can then print off and share with parents
Interactive story CD-ROMs in libraries for young children
Word-processing facilities and Internet access as part of homework support facilities in libraries
“Smartboards” – interactive whiteboards in nurseries and schools
Web-based clubs at libraries for young people to review books.
Laptops for young people who live far from schools, allowing learning on a flexible basis, access web-based assignments and e-mail contact with a tutor.
Handheld computers and tablet PCs giving more flexibility in note-taking, including handwriting directly onto the computer.
Read this- Me read, No way!: A practical guide to improving boys’ literacy skills.
In my previous blog I mentioned the research of Randall Stross which indicated that students from low income families performances dropped after receiving computers. I also went on to enumerate some of the factors that I thought might have been involved. The question then arose in my mind as to what might happen if we ameliorated these factors by exposing low income families to a range of options and then scaffolding them in using these. What would happen if we changed the culture of education in low income families? This would surely level the playing fields.
The English did it!
According to the Ontario Ministry of Education diversification in the range of technologies available, and improved access to them is changing the nature of literacy and numeracy programs and resources in Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
These include the following:
Digital cameras to produce books that nursery children can then print off and share with parents
Interactive story CD-ROMs in libraries for young children
Word-processing facilities and Internet access as part of homework support facilities in libraries
“Smartboards” – interactive whiteboards in nurseries and schools
Web-based clubs at libraries for young people to review books.
Laptops for young people who live far from schools, allowing learning on a flexible basis, access web-based assignments and e-mail contact with a tutor.
Handheld computers and tablet PCs giving more flexibility in note-taking, including handwriting directly onto the computer.
Read this- Me read, No way!: A practical guide to improving boys’ literacy skills.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Computers Lower Test Scores in Poor People!
Children from low-income households in the United States have lower test scores after they obtain home computers.
Shocking, isn’t it? In fact the New York Times Magazine’s Randall Stross reported that economists have concluded that little or no educational benefit was found when children of low income households used computers. Further, it was reported that computers seem to have further separated children in low income households whose test scores often declined after the machine arrives, from their more privileged counterparts.
One of Stross’ arguments is that middle school children are versed in the art of idling and the personal computer may be the ultimate time wasting machine. In a study by the University of Chicago, it was found that there was a negative effect on academic achievement in low income families who got vouchers. Similar effects were noted in Romania in a 2009 study of families which got a 200 Euros voucher to purchase a home computer.
Guess what was the positive outcome?
Well as you might have guessed students generally improved their computer skills. After all, practice makes perfect. It not that poor people don’t appreciate good things; we also need to consider the software, use in the classroom, internet use, family practices, home assigned uses and levels of basic literacy in the first place. I am very passionate about the use of computers for educational purposes especially in terms of the level and quality of training in the major teacher education programme. I am doing my third tertiary level educational technology course and I feel disappointed that courses are so often rushed and we barely get the time to build real competence with the technology. It’s always about the assignment and the grade, it’s disgusting. Anyway, I’ll stop now before I use any bad words.
Keep up with the latest
Keep reading the Millennium Reading Specialist
Shocking, isn’t it? In fact the New York Times Magazine’s Randall Stross reported that economists have concluded that little or no educational benefit was found when children of low income households used computers. Further, it was reported that computers seem to have further separated children in low income households whose test scores often declined after the machine arrives, from their more privileged counterparts.
One of Stross’ arguments is that middle school children are versed in the art of idling and the personal computer may be the ultimate time wasting machine. In a study by the University of Chicago, it was found that there was a negative effect on academic achievement in low income families who got vouchers. Similar effects were noted in Romania in a 2009 study of families which got a 200 Euros voucher to purchase a home computer.
Guess what was the positive outcome?
Well as you might have guessed students generally improved their computer skills. After all, practice makes perfect. It not that poor people don’t appreciate good things; we also need to consider the software, use in the classroom, internet use, family practices, home assigned uses and levels of basic literacy in the first place. I am very passionate about the use of computers for educational purposes especially in terms of the level and quality of training in the major teacher education programme. I am doing my third tertiary level educational technology course and I feel disappointed that courses are so often rushed and we barely get the time to build real competence with the technology. It’s always about the assignment and the grade, it’s disgusting. Anyway, I’ll stop now before I use any bad words.
Keep up with the latest
Keep reading the Millennium Reading Specialist
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Lap tops a political toy?
Ploy or toy?
As opposition leader, current Prime Minister Kamla Persad –Bissessar promised a free laptop in the bookbag of every child who wrote the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) in Trinidad and Tobago. A promise that is yet to be fulfilled but which I am sure will soon materialize. This promise was a courageous one especially in the context in which it was made. Additionally, the Guardian newspaper recently reported that St Vincent’s Prime Minister, Ralph Gonzales is now looking into free laptops for its 30,000 primary and secondary school students at a cost of over 70 million dollars. Similar to Trinidad’s situation is that this seems to be a political move since elections are due next March and the opposition leader is also promising free laptop if elected. additionally, children have also recently received free laptops in Argentina.
Are we ready?
My hope is that we have the infrastructure and capacity to deal with these digital children. I am concerned with the use of these computers for educational purposes that would enhance and develop basic literacy skills such as reading and writing. Additionally, I pray that we develop the level of technical support that would be needed for this type of venture. It also goes without saying that I am a primarily concerned with the human resource capacity of the nation’s teaching service to effectively use technology in education. Other than two Bachelor of Education courses and this one, I wonder what else is available. What does Education’s Human Resource division have in the pipe lines? To be honest I’m a bit nervous. My concern is the general incompetence of the Ministry of Education in most projects.
What are your thoughts with regard to the Laptop matter?
Keep reading
I have a shocking revelation on this matter from the New York Times Magazine
As opposition leader, current Prime Minister Kamla Persad –Bissessar promised a free laptop in the bookbag of every child who wrote the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) in Trinidad and Tobago. A promise that is yet to be fulfilled but which I am sure will soon materialize. This promise was a courageous one especially in the context in which it was made. Additionally, the Guardian newspaper recently reported that St Vincent’s Prime Minister, Ralph Gonzales is now looking into free laptops for its 30,000 primary and secondary school students at a cost of over 70 million dollars. Similar to Trinidad’s situation is that this seems to be a political move since elections are due next March and the opposition leader is also promising free laptop if elected. additionally, children have also recently received free laptops in Argentina.
Are we ready?
My hope is that we have the infrastructure and capacity to deal with these digital children. I am concerned with the use of these computers for educational purposes that would enhance and develop basic literacy skills such as reading and writing. Additionally, I pray that we develop the level of technical support that would be needed for this type of venture. It also goes without saying that I am a primarily concerned with the human resource capacity of the nation’s teaching service to effectively use technology in education. Other than two Bachelor of Education courses and this one, I wonder what else is available. What does Education’s Human Resource division have in the pipe lines? To be honest I’m a bit nervous. My concern is the general incompetence of the Ministry of Education in most projects.
What are your thoughts with regard to the Laptop matter?
Keep reading
I have a shocking revelation on this matter from the New York Times Magazine
Friday, July 23, 2010
Still Having Boy Problems ?
Leave the boys alone; let them play!
Parents and teachers alike rapidly disregard boys’ obsession with computers as a gratuitous diversion from their traditional book-based literacy. They rarely appreciate its potential to empower users to gain access to and control of information. Millard (1997, p. 46) asserts “It is imperative that educators and parents be aware of the impact of the multimedia world, and understand the positive ways in which these new languages and cultures can be harnessed as adjuncts to book-based literacy”.
So, are we aware?
Boys know their way in the technology jungle all too well. We need to capitalize on their attraction to computers to motivate and stimulate their literacy development. It is we therefore, the so called “educators”, that now need to be educated. We have to become proactive to be able to trek though their technological jungle. The most important piece of advice I have is to go bravely, be open and fear nothing.
Be Prepared
We simply have to be prepared. I recently completed a computer literacy class with a few teachers (both primary and secondary), and it was not surprising that many of them were basically tabula raza. The onus is therefore on us to take the initiative to become computer technology literate. There is no magic to it but lots of logic, since many of the technologies retain similar features. We just need to explore, practice, use the help function or when all else fails call a more competent colleague.
Keep reading the Millennium Reading Specialist for a list of strategies for success with boys.
Millard, Elaine. (1997). Differently literate: Boys and girls and the schooling of literacy.London: Routledge and Farmer.
Parents and teachers alike rapidly disregard boys’ obsession with computers as a gratuitous diversion from their traditional book-based literacy. They rarely appreciate its potential to empower users to gain access to and control of information. Millard (1997, p. 46) asserts “It is imperative that educators and parents be aware of the impact of the multimedia world, and understand the positive ways in which these new languages and cultures can be harnessed as adjuncts to book-based literacy”.
So, are we aware?
Boys know their way in the technology jungle all too well. We need to capitalize on their attraction to computers to motivate and stimulate their literacy development. It is we therefore, the so called “educators”, that now need to be educated. We have to become proactive to be able to trek though their technological jungle. The most important piece of advice I have is to go bravely, be open and fear nothing.
Be Prepared
We simply have to be prepared. I recently completed a computer literacy class with a few teachers (both primary and secondary), and it was not surprising that many of them were basically tabula raza. The onus is therefore on us to take the initiative to become computer technology literate. There is no magic to it but lots of logic, since many of the technologies retain similar features. We just need to explore, practice, use the help function or when all else fails call a more competent colleague.
Keep reading the Millennium Reading Specialist for a list of strategies for success with boys.
Millard, Elaine. (1997). Differently literate: Boys and girls and the schooling of literacy.London: Routledge and Farmer.
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